Page 90 of The Cottage on Plum Island
“Ouch, that must be uncomfortable as Jennifer has a big ring of keys,” Harley stated, walking toward her to untie her.
“You have no idea,” Harriet said.
Harley untied Harriet, and she stood rubbing her wrists and loosening her arms.
“Come on, let’s get out of here,” Harley said, pulling the door open and stepping out into the quiet hallway. “That’s strange. It’s never this quiet.”
“That’s because everyone’s at dinner,” Harriet whispered, pointing to the dining room.
“Great, come on.” Harley and Harriet rushed into the reception area.
They were surprised to see no guards there.
“I wonder where the…” Harley’s eyes widened when he saw Harriet pointing to the reception desk.
“I hope they’re sleeping like you were and not dead!” Harriet said, looking alittle green.
Harley stepped around and felt for a pulse. “They’re sleeping.” His eyes narrowed. “The geriatric did this.”
“Ah-ha!” Harriet pointed at him. “It was a geriatric that took you down.”
“No, he took me by surprise,” Harley growled. “Come on. We don’t have time for this.”
“Sure.” Harriet ran behind him as they dashed through the front door. “That’s disturbing that we could just run right out the front door without getting stopped.”
“I had a key card that opened the door,” Harley told her, showing her his visitor’s pass.
“Shouldn’t you have left it at the reception desk?” Harriet asked as they got to Jennifer’s car.
“Keys.” Harley held out his hand and raised an eyebrow when she fished them out of the front pocket of her designer jeans. “I thought you had them in your back pocket.”
“I’m from New York!” Harriet pointed out. “Putting anything in your back pocket is like handing someone what you’ve put in there with all the pickpockets.”
“Good to know.” Harley unlocked the car, and they climbed in.
“I hope you’re going to return the pass eventually,” Harriet said, sliding the safety belt on.
“Of course.” Harley started the car and backed out of the parking lot. “Let’s hope there’s no cops on the road.”
As they sped toward Plum Island, he asked Harriet to explain the man who had taken Jennifer.
“A few inches taller than me, moderately handsome, deep voice although he was muttering a lot,” Harriet’s brow creased thoughtfully. “Oh, and his one eye had a spot of yellow in it.”
Harley’s eyes widened. Now, the Daniel and Clair comment made sense. He hit the steering wheel. “I knew it!”
“Are you going to tell me how an older man got the drop on you?” Harriet asked him again.
“You’re not going to leave this alone, are you?” Harley looked at her, and she shook her head.
“I’ve seen how you automatically scan your surroundings,” Harriet told him. “So, I’m thinking there’s only a few ways someone would get the drop on you. You were drugged or surprised to see them, which meant you knew them and probably trusted them.”
“Wow!” Harley breathed as they drove into Plum Island. “You’re quite the detective.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Yes, the man surprised me, I knew him, and he’s someone I’d usually trust with my life.”
“But he knocked you out and tied you to a chair,” Harriet pointed out. “Who was he? So I know if I ever meet this man, I should be very wary of them.”
“You already have met him,” Harley told her. “It was my Uncle Sam.”
CHAPTER 17
